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Ducks Unlimited asks you to vote YES on Proposition 4 on November’s ballot.  

This measure would inject $10 billion of bond funding into California’s parks, environment, energy, and water resources. Of that, $2 billion would be dedicated to habitat restoration and enhancement.  

These funds--allocated to the Wildlife Conservation Board, coast wetland enhancement and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy-- would bring important investment into California’s wetlands, which need our help.   

California’s wetlands are among the most important in the Pacific Flyway. Without them, millions of waterfowl would lack the critical habitat they need for migration and breeding. Unfortunately, 95% of California’s historic wetlands are already gone.  

DU strongly believes these funds are necessary to implement the important projects that restore, protect and enhance these habitats, keeping waterfowl in the sky for generations.  

DU has utilized similar bond funds, authorized by voters, to create lasting, and meaningful conservation projects.  

Last year, DU completed work on a large-scale water management project at Gray Lodge National Wildlife Area, one of California’s most heavily visited wildlife areas. With $52 million of bond funding, DU oversaw the design, environmental compliance, and construction of 5 1/2 miles of upgrades to the canals that ship water from the Thermalito Afterbay reservoir north of Gray Lodge to the 9,100-acre wildlife area north of Sacramento. The project also replaced four county road bridges, seven large water-control structures, three farm bridges and 45 structures that move water into farm fields. 

Other significant DU projects include:  

  • Shasta Valley Wildlife Area: DU installed a 2,350-foot pipeline from the river pump to Steamboat Lake, enhancing 556 wetland acres and 137 upland acres, improving water use efficiency and climate resiliency. 
  • Willow Creek Wildlife Area:  DU upgraded structures throughout the meadow to improve water delivery and irrigation capabilities, enhancing 870 acres of wet meadow habitat, an important Sandhilll Crane and waterfowl nesting area. 
  • Honey Lake Wildlife Area: DU is leading construction on a significant wetland recontouring project to improve levees, create swales and upgrade water control structures. This project will improve management capabilities on 841 wetland and 189 upland acres; improve water use efficiency and ability to support more perennial wetland habitat for nesting waterfowl 
  • Ocean Ranch Restoration Project: DU engineers worked to restore more than 800 acres of tidal wetlands and coastal dunes to Ocean Ranch on the Northern California coast. The result: waterfowl, Coho Salmon, tidewater goby, and native plants are showing signs of a comeback for the first time in decades.   

 

 

  • Eden Landing Restoration Project: DU performed habitat enhancements on the site that included the construction of shallow foraging mounds, gentle swales, and nesting islands. These enhancements will optimize foraging and roosting habitat 
  • Elkhorn Slough Minhoto Restoration Project: DU repaired the largest tract of tidal salt marsh south of San Francisco Bay. 
  • Sutter National Wildlife Refuge Lift Station Project: DU is collaborating with Sutter NWR and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to design and construct a $16 million lift pump station that will provide a more reliable water supply for 1,540 acres of critically important seasonal wetlands located in the Sutter Bypass. Funding for this project includes nearly $6 million in California Prop 1 Water Bond funds along with $10 million in federal funds.

 

DU is committed to doing the on-the-ground work to improve habitat conditions for waterfowl, wildlife, and people, and Proposition 4 is critical for DU’s work in California. By voting Yes, you are making an investment that will make a real difference for the birds that depend on our state.